The Miami Dolphins made the trip up north to face the New York Jets in Week 14. Coming in on a three-game winning streak, the Dolphins needed to get to four in a row to stay alive in the playoff hunt.
Not only did the Dolphins do just that, but Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins blew out the Jets 34-10. It was a huge confidence-boosting game, and now at 6-7, the Dolphins are tied with the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
But, for ESPN analyst Ben Solak, this win means much more than just another game in the win column. By winning in New York, in sub-45-degree temperatures, the Dolphins broke a seven-game losing streak and now look prepared to play winter football.
Dolphins finally overcoming cold-curse is good sign for Tua Tagovailoa
"37 degrees: that's how cold it was at kickoff for Dolphins-Jets, a game the Dolphins won convincingly to extend their winning streak to four games." Solak writes. "It's the first game Tua Tagovailoa has won in the NFL when the temperature was under 45 degrees."
Winning against the Jets, who've struggled a lot this season, might not seem like a huge deal, but it's a significant development for the Dolphins and Tagovailoa.
He's been in the NFL for a while now, and he's winless in all six of his games when temperatures are below 45 degrees.
Losing in cold climates is a brutal outlook for the Dolphins, especially since they will have to play the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills every season. Add on any playoff matchup outside up north, and the Dolphins' inability to win when it's cold is a huge deal.
More: Truth about Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa and his disastrous record in freezing temperatures
However, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins snapped this losing streak and are now in a much better spot going forward. The first step is always the hardest one, and now the Dolphins have finally broken this cold-weather curse.
That will come into play in Week 15, as the Dolphins travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in what looks like another cold-weather game. While those temperatures might be colder than this Week's matchup, their experience winning a game in the cold should help.
There's still a lot of long-term questions left with Tagovailoa and the Dolphins, but breaking this streak is a great way to bounce back from a rough start to the year.
Miami is, ironically, one of the hottest teams in football after this Week 14 cold-weather win over the Jets. Much has been documented about the Dolphins' cold-weather struggles, but for now, the red-hot Dolphins have put those concerns to rest.
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